Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has a 49 - 31 percent job approval rating from Iowa registered voters
who say 43 - 42 percent that he does not deserve another term in office, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Voters are divided on whether Iowa should expand its Medicaid program as part of the
federal health care overhaul, with 45 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed, the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

"Gov. Terry Branstad's job approval numbers are just short of the 50 percent threshold
and show a nearly 20 point spread between those who approve and disapprove of his job
performance," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"The fact that voters are split on the question of whether Gov. Branstad deserves another term in
Des Moines is probably a bit disconcerting for the governor. It could be that some voters like
what he has done in office but that 20 years in the governor's office is just too long."

The governor's approval rating is 75 - 9 percent among Republicans and 50 - 28 percent
among independent voters, while Democrats disapprove 53 - 28 percent. There is a small
gender gap, with men approving 55 - 29 percent, while women give him a thumbs up 44 - 32
percent.

But when voters are asked if Branstad deserves another term, his scores drop across the
board. Republicans say he deserves four more years 67 - 18 percent, but Democrats say no
66 - 19 percent and independent voters are split by a 43 - 41 percent margin. Men are divided
as 48 percent say yes to another Branstad term and 41 percent say no. Women say no 44 - 36
percent.

"The governor's reelection numbers are a contrast with his approval ratings and are
worth noting," said Brown. "Yet, the lack of any major Democratic challenger with widespread
name recognition and the cash to wage a very expensive campaign probably makes the governor
a better reelection bet than the numbers indicate. After all, voters may think he has been
governor too long, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will vote to replace him."

Branstad is likely benefiting from the perception of the state's voters that the economy is
getting better.

Although only 5 percent of voters think the economy in Iowa is excellent, a very healthy
61 percent rate it as good, while 26 percent say it is "not so good" and 6 percent say it is poor. A
third of voters, 35 percent, say the economy is getting better while only 13 percent think it is
getting worse. Voters do not see the same improvement in their own lives, with 23 percent
saying their personal financial situation is getting better and 24 percent saying it is worsening
and 52 percent seeing it as unchanged.

"Good economies are generally good for incumbents seeking reelection," said Brown.

"There is a slight plurality of voters who support Medicaid expansion, but it is an issue
on which the state is pretty well split," said Brown.

The governor's job approval rating is in line with that of the state's two U.S. senators.
Chuck Grassley gets a 52 - 33 percent score, while Tom Harkin receives a 47 - 35 percent rating.
The Iowa legislature, however, does not fare as well, with a negative 38 - 41 percent approval
rating.

From May 15 - 21, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,411 registered voters with a margin
of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Iowa and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Terry Branstad is handling his job as Governor?

21. As you may know Medicaid is a government program that pays for health care for low-income people and others with certain disabilities. Do you think that increasing the number of people eligible for Medicaid coverage in Iowa is a good idea or a bad idea?